There are a number of demesnes, estates, castles, country houses and manors dotted throughout Ireland. It is vital that these grand houses are protected for future generations as they are an important part of our built, cultural and indeed in cases our natural heritage. Unlike todays buildings these buildings are not mass produced they were constructed by craftsmen and stonemasons. There were no diggers and electrical equipment like cement mixers and mass produced blocks, each stone was carved manually. The sheer amount of physical work that went into building these grand houses is testament to the skills of the people who helped in the construction of these buildings.

Here are just an example of some of these buildings which are no longer residences to wealthy families but have found new uses which will ensure that they are protected for future generations while allowing the general public visit and appreciate them. However during our Celtic Tiger overdevelopment has taken place right across the country and some of our heritage has been lost as a result, however here are a few examples which have ensured the protection of the unique features of the building while providing a modern day use for these buildings. Most of these uses tend to be for the hostility sector due to the sheer size of these buildings.

Lough Rynn House- Now a hotel

Farnham Estate- The Radissan Hotel Cavan- Now a hotel

Markree Castle- Now a hotel

Solis Lough Eske- Now a hotel

Castle Leslie Estate- Now a hotel

Castlesaunderson Estate- work in progress to become a scouting centre: multi-facility and Adventure Centre, including permanent Jamboree site, capable of accommodating 1,000 people. The Castlesaunderson Project is one of a small number of flagship projects thanks receiving funding of over €3 million from the European Union’s Peace III managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Pell Well Hall (Image from Strutt & Parker)

Sir John Soane was one of the most important Regency architects, responsible for some of the most interesting buildings in the country.  However, many of his commissions were urban or were additions to existing country houses.  This makes the country houses which he designed alone quite rare – and as a master architect they are usually amongst the most beautiful and elegant buildings in the country. However, despite their rarity and elegance they have often been mistreated.

Pell Well Hall is one such example.  Built between 1822-28 for the wealthy iron merchant, Mr Purney Sillitoe, it later became a boys school until the mid-1960s when it passed again into private ownership.  This however was a period which ended with the house as a fire-ravaged shell on the verge of collapse.  There was widespread concern with the house appearing on the various ‘building at risk’ registers.  This led to a concerted effort which removed the unsympathetic Victorian and Edwardian additions (sorry SPAB) leaving an eminently manageable country house.  The restoration programme stabilised the building and interior and the house was put on the market about two years ago.  Unfortunately, like Soane’s other ‘at risk’ house, Piercefield in Chepstow (also for sale with Strutt & Parker), it failed to find a buyer.

So, once again, the elegant Pell Well Hall is again for sale.  Strutt & Parker are offering the Grade-II* house with 4 acres of land, with the guide price of £750,000 reflecting the level of work that will be required to restore this important house (think low single digit millions to do it properly).  It could be used for leisure or commercial purposes but really this house cries out for someone to make it a home.

Full details: ‘Pell Wall, Market Drayton, Shropshire‘ [Strutt & Parker]

Attingham Park

I have recently started a Museum and Heritage course, which means I am able to visit some lovely places!  I especially enjoyed a visit to Attingham Park, a beautiful 18th century mansion, owned by the National Trust. 

Thanks to a well-funded project, ‘Attingham Rediscovered’, the property is researching Regency interior design.  There are wonderful examples of beautiful fabrics and painted details.  Fabrics, painted walls and pieces of furniture have been painstakingly restored.  In some instances, replica decorations and furnishings have been displayed, informed by traces of evidence such as wall samples, as well as inventories and letters relating to the house to provide an accurate portrayal of how the house may have been furnished – hence ‘Rediscovered’.

Especially worth a look is the dining room, which features a candlelight food display, designed by the same person who made food displays for Hampton Court (I wish I knew who this person is??!!).

It’s well worth a visit!  I really want to go back, to explore the park further…

Yeldersley Hall

Seems like the home of my great great grandfather FitzHerbert Wright (1841-1910) and his father Francis Wright (1806 – 1873) has been turned into “Luxury Self Catering Holiday Apartments in a Georgian Mansion” … although I’d have though that luxury and self catering are mutually exclusive.

Doubt they do discounts for descendants unless you’re the Duchess of York and her offspring, but at least they had a picture of FitzHerbert Wright on their site:

Francis FitzHerbert Wright (1841-1910)

Haven’t been posting of late but interesting to find out that my uncle and aunt’s former home is on sale with Savills for around 4 million quid. They bought in the 50s for around 5,000!

Hay Carr Lancaster

My uncle was a Captain in the 6th Gurkhas and later Lt. Colonel, Hon Colonel of Duke of Lancashire’s Yeomanry. He was also High Sheriff of Lancashire.

Captain Michael Birtwistle

Hello and good morning to all my faith full blog readers, today I have a question i would like your thoughts on

Would a commissioning editor commission Models and Photographers and possibly venues / studio’s together ?

Normally the commissioning editor would have models on tap through an agency and a regular (same safe images every time !) photographer that they know and trust, and for that matter the venue booked as well.

So what I would like to know is, would you commission both together ?

Clearly the thinking behind this is that we have several models that we work closely with who are very comfortable with us and our working style who have asked us to create a portfolio page on our website for each of them. Now I am not interested in creating a Model agency, there’s enough of those out there (though not that many good ones) I just want to be working more, and getting the girls greater exposure along with us.

That’s it, simples

http://www.robbwebbphotography.co.uk

http://www.eventphotographyonline.co.uk

Linearis, your holiday in tuscany

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The city of Cordoba, albeit better known for its 3,000 year history and wealth of historical remains and cultural interest, is also lucky enough to be extremely close to the mountainous region known as the Sierra, with its remarkable natural treasures. The province of Cordoba is full of areas of countryside of remarkable ecological interest and towns with a rich artistic and historical patrimony where time seems to have stood still.

The province of Cordoba contains two of the most important towns in Andalusia during the Baroque period: Priego and Lucena, whose churches and shrines reflect the architectural styles of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Zuheros, nestling in the hills of the Subbetica range, is one of the most attractive and popular towns in the south of Spain, together with Montoro, with its old quarter looking over the meandering bends of the River Guadalquivir. Almodóvar del Río, next to the Sierra de Hornachuelos Natural Park, has one of the most perfectly preserved castles in Andalusia, and from its towers and battlements all the tumultuous history of the province seems to echo down the years.

Historic quarters, beauty spots in the country, traditional festivals which delight the tourists, charming nooks and crannies hidden in corners of the old towns, all of these are just a taste of what the province of Cordoba holds for visitors or people spending their holidays in Cordoba.

There is also a wide choice of country walks in the province, amid stunning landscapes which include one nature reserve and three natural parks. One of these natural parks is the Sierras Subbeticas Natural Park. This Natural Park is located in the south of the province, about 70km from Cordoba, and includes a number of attractive villages such as Luque, Zuheros, Priego or Rute. The eroding limestone rock has created abrupt formations and typical features of limestone karst of great interest to geologists, such as lapies (weathered limestone with deep grooves), steep gullies or poljes (sunken valleys). The evergreen oak is the commonest tree in the sunny areas facing south, whereas on the north-facing slopes, the gall oak is more abundant. Near the attractive village of Zuheros, with its Arabic castle, is the Cave of the Bats, which is of enormous geological and archaeological interest: groups can visit the cave on guided tours.

If you plan to spend your holidays in Cordoba, the city has over 5,000 hotel places on offer. There are 47 hotels and 52 guest houses, country houses and holiday accommodation distributed over the city centre, the historic quarter and the area around the city. There is a wide variety of accommodation from the height of comfort for the most demanding to simple, cheap rural lodgings for the tightest budgets. If you’re looking for holiday rentals Cordoba, but are not sure yet in which area of the province you would like to stay, there is some quality rural accommodation near Priego, in a beautiful area bordering the province of Granada.

I’ve been looking into my Macdonell of Keppoch ancestors, although that might be McDonnell. My great great mother was Christina Mary Theresa McDonnell, the daughter of Angus McDonnell, 20th Chief and Christina MacNab. According to The Jacobite Peerage by Melville Henry Massue Ruvigny Et Raineval, etc, she married George ‘Keith’ Maitland at Keppoch in 1877 (see here).

By strange coincidence, Petronilla Maitland thinks Keith lost a lot of money on a coffee plantation in Ceylon, but was effectively saved by his wealthy wife Theresa who converted the Presbyterian Scot to Catholicism (see more here). I hoping to catch-up with Petronilla and her son John soon to find out more my Maitland relatives, but am a bit at a loss as far as the McDonnells are concerned. Historically, there’s both the Wikipedia and Electric Scotland, as well as the Macdonald of Keppoch site. My cousin Hamish has traced Christina Mary ‘Theresa’ back through her father Angus, 20th Chief, to Alexander (AlastairCarrach of Keppoch) MacDonald (1st of Keppoch), grandson of Robert II King of Scotland. In fact, Hamish goes on show the Viking ancestry here and here, which I’ll try and tie-up with some other family myths (see here).

I discovered some more information on Rita MacDonald’s genealogical pages and and she mentions the following on her page aboutAngus’ (20 Chieftan):

Angus and Christina spent all their married life at Keppoch, although by this time it was rented from MacIntosh. Angus died in l855 from smallpox which he caught whilst caring for the victims of an epidemic in Glasgow. Christina, still young, was left to bring up their large family of twelve, three of whom died in fancy or early childhood. The family was still living at Keppoch when Mother Celestine left.

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland site has Keppoch House listed as being built by Ranald Macdonell, 17th Chief of Keppoch whereas my cousin has the 17th Chief as Angus. So I hope this photo I found on Georgiana Molloy’s Blog is the right house as it looks rather splendid:

Keppoch House

Rita Macdonald has some more information about Keppoch House on the page about Theresa’s sister Frances, who became Mother Celestine du Bon Pasteur, Second Mother General of the Congratation of the Sisters of Assumption. There’s also a little snippet about Frances having a happy childhood and being a gay and happy young girl when she went to London to her sister Theresa for the season. I also like the following poem by Frances to her family and home, on leaving for the convent:

FAREWELL TO HER HOME KEPPOCH
My mother and my sisters dear,
Grieve not that we must part,
Ah! Dry away that falling tear
Take not my loss to heart.

For many, many happy years,
We’ve lived a life of love,
And though we part with blinding tears,
We’ll meet in bliss above.

Ah, See how short our life will be,
It’s passing swift away,
How soon will come eternity,
That bright undying day.

The brightest life is full of grief,
Our crosses come each hour,
Our happy days, how very brief,
How low the dark clouds lour.

Then who would seek for pleasure here,
Where all must fade and die,
Look up, the sky is bright and clear,
Our home of love is nigh.

Ah hear my fond, my last adieu,
To my dear highland home,
I loved it with a love so true,
And better love has come.

The river where I wandered oft,
I never more will hear,
Its murmuring with a voice so soft,
In memories longing ear.

Each flower, each stream, each walk and tree
Tho from them I depart,
Their image, Oh! Twill ever be,
Imprimed upon my heart.

But joyfully I leave them all,
To follow Him I love,
Oh! Could he slight the tender call,
Which comes from that sweet love!

And yet this pure weak human heart,
Will feel a bitter pain,
Thus from you all, so loved, to part,
When, when to meet again.

But, said I not this life was brief,
How quick our sorrows fade,
And those who hear the greatest grief,
Shall be the highest paid.

Our soul is like a vessel cast,
Upon a troubled sea,
Each storm is greater than the last,
Our struggle brave must be.

I cannot trust to my own sail,
To bear me safe across,
My guide is one who cannot fail,
To save my bark from loss.

Then fare thee well, my sweet ones dear,
Farewell all those I love,
We were not made for pleasures here,
Joy waits for us above.

Oh! My God’s grace attend us here,
And bear us safe through life,
To His blest will our heads we bow,
He’ll help us through our strife.

Adieu! adieu! Once more adieu!
Oh! breathe one prayer for me,
We’ll meet with love so fond and true,
In bright eternity.

Fanny

I had an email from Charles Wright last night. He’d noticed the blog, and explained that we were both descendants of Francis Wright of Osmaston Manor, Derbys (see photo below). Turns he was also at school with my brother Marcus, but doesn’t appear to have been too scarred by the experience. Seems like Charles is a great source of family history and strange connections, which is exactly the sort of thing I’m after. For example, my ancestor Charles Fox the engineer was awarded a knighthood for his part in building the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851 (see more here).

Osmaston Manor

He also sent me a Cousins’ Prayer Union from his great, or perhaps even great great, aunt. It came with a huge list of names including my father’s. So I’ll try and do something with these once I figure out how to retain the formatting between MS Word and the WordPress blog. More on all this soon, but in the meantime here’s the Cousins’ Prayer Union which I’ve had to adapt slightly to work in HTML:

“Helping together by Prayer.” – 2 Cor. i.11. “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” – Tit.ii.13 ______________ Cousins’ Prayer Union _______ “MORE THINGS ARE WROUGHT BY PRAYER THAN THIS WORLD DREAMS OF.” ______________ PRAYER

O God, Our heavenly Father, we commit to Thy Fatherly care all whom we love, especially those from ___________. O Lord, remember them for good; be Thou with each one of them; keep them outwardly from all harm; and above all, bless and strengthen them in their souls. Pour out thy Holy Spirit upon them to guide them into all truth. Grant unto each one of us that we may be standing with our loins girded and our lamps burning, waiting for the coming of our Lord. And we also bless Thy Holy Name for all Thy servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear; beseeching Thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of Thy Heavenly Kingdom; grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Let us remember the families

Uncle John Uncle Henry Aunt Bessie Aunt Selina Uncle Frank Aunt Fannie Aunt Mary Uncle Fitz Uncle Phil

- 1st week: - 2nd week: -3rd week: “ - 4th week: - 1st week: - 2nd week: - 3rd week: - 4th week:

Jan | Mar “ “ “ “ Feb | Apl “ “ “

May | Jun “ “ “ “ Jun | Aug “ “ “

Sep | Nov “ “ “ “ Oct | Jun “ “ “

I’m still trying to find out more about the Ramsay ancestry. Each time a look another piece of the jigsaw fits together. This time I think that I’ve finally worked out that the Peter Ramsay (a banker in Edinburgh) who married Susan Marry Hamilton in 1820, was the son of the banker William Ramsay (junior). William was the brother of my ancestor George Ramsay of Barnton. The Ratho Local history site explains that in 1821 Wm. Ramsey, Banker, Edinburgh gives the Gogar Bank House property (see below) to son Peter.

Gogar Bank House

Well, that clears up that mystery although I’m still none the wiser about how this family suddenly became so wealthy. Obviously, the banking connection has a huge part to play and they would have been very much in the right place and right time given their rise coincides with the Scottish Enlightenment, but how did they get to be in there in the first place?

Clifton Hall School

I’ve been trying to figure out if Clifton Hall School is the same Clifton Hall in Midlothian owned my Maitland Ancestors. The location seems to be right and so does the turret on the right, looking at an old photo on the Ratho Local History site (see below).

Clifton Hall

According to the Ratho Local History site, Clifton Hall was sold to Thomas Gibson of Pentland, one of the clerks to the Privy Council of Scotland, in 1761. I’m guessing I’m probably descended from Thomas as the site mentions that the estate passed to the Maitland family by marriage of his grand-daughter (Helen Gibson-Wright) to Sir Alexander Charles Maitland, 2nd Bart.

Their son Alexander Gibson-Maitland married Susan Ramsay, the daughter of George Ramsay of Barntoun, and it was their son (Sir Alexander Charles Maitland, 3rd Bt) who inherited the Barntoun estates in 1865 and assumed then the additional names of Ramsay and Gibson. I hadn’t worked out how he inherited these estates until today. Basically, his grandfather George Ramsay of Barntoun was also the grandfather of Charles William Ramsay Ramsay. Charles died unmarried having got erysipelas from a scratch after having been knocked of a carriage (see below), and so the estates passed to his cousin:

At Barnton House, Midlothian, aged 21, Charles William Ramsay Ramsay, esq., of Barnton and of Sauchie, Stirlingshire, only son of the late Wm. Ramsay-Ramsay, esq., of Barnton, who was some time M.P. for Midlothian, by the Hon. Maria, only dau. of James, Tenth Lord Torphichen, and was born at Barnton, in the year 1844. Mr. Ramsay was present at the celebration a few weeks ago of the coming of age of Sir Norman Macdonald Lockhart, of Lee and Carnwath, and was then in his usual health. While returning to Lanark from a ball given by Mr. Monteath, of Carstairs, the driver of the omnibus on which Mr. Ramsay, with other gentlemen, was riding, confused by the darkness of the night, mistook a turn of the road, and drove the omnibus under some trees, a branch of one of which dragged Mr. Ramsay off the vehicle. In falling, Mr. Ramsay’s leg, coming in contact with the iron step of the carriage, sustained a wound below the knee, which was at first disregarded as a mere scratch, but which ultimately ended in erysipelas. The deceased was unmarried, and had only attained his majority in February last. His estates will probably devolve on his cousin, Sir Alexander C. Gibson- Maitland, Bart., of Clifton Hall, Midlothian, whose mother was the eldest dau. of Mr. George Ramsay of Barnton, the grandfather of the deceased.

Source: The Gentleman’s Magazine (1866)

Apparently, Clifton Hall remained in the possession of the family Ramsey-Gibson-Maitland until about 1880 when it was purchased by Robert Bell, a pioneer in the coal and shale oil industries. This must be when this branch of the Maitlands moved to Castle Gogar (see more here). Barnton House (see below), which was the other Ramsay ‘home’ fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished.

Barnton House Engraving

George Ramsay’s daughter Keith Alicia married Sir Archibald Dunbar, 7th Baronet of Northfield (1803-1898). They lived in Duffus House near Elgin, Morayshire. I’ve been trying to source a photo, but the best I can find is about the size of a postage stamp on the Gordonstoun School site. As mentioned, before, I went to Gordonstoun in the late 70s and was bizarrely in Duffus House. It was rented from Sir Archie Dunbar who I assume must be the current baronet. He lived in the Old Manse, which we went past every day on our way to breakfast. I don’t actually share an ancestor with Sir Archie, or at least not George Ramsay of Barnton. The baronetcy did go to Sir Archibald Hamilton Dunbar who was the son of Keith Alicia (Ramsay), but there was no heir so the title went via his half brother.

The Times | June 10, 1910: ORBITUARIES
Sir Archibald Hamilton Dunbar, seventh baronet, of Northfield, died on Monday it his Scottlsh seat, Duffus House, Elgin, in his 63rd year. Sir Archibald was the elder son of the sixth baronet by his first wife, Keith Alicia, daughter of Mr. George Ramsay, of Barnton, Mid Lothian. He entered the Army and served in the Berkshire Regiment for some years. After his retirement from the service and his succession to the title, in 189S, he devoted his leisure to historical and antiquarian studies, and some years ago published “Scottish Kings: A Chronology of Scottish Eist4ry.” He married in 1865 Isabella Mary, elder daughter of Mr. Charles Eyre, of Welford Park, Berks. There is no issue of the marriage, and the successor to the title is Sir Archibald’s half-brother. the Rev. Dr. Charles Gordon Cumming Dunbar, late Archdeacon of Grenada, whose wife, a daughter of Mr. W. C. Wentworth, the Australian statesman, died in 1891, leaving a daughter. The heir presumptive to the title is now, Mr. Arbuthnot John Dunbar, R.F.A., a great-grandson of the fifth baronet.

I’ve had an update from the new owner of Castle Gogar, once owned by one of my ancestors (see more here). She explained that Brenda Steel Maitland died in 2003, she left the castle and estate to Gordon Stewart who looked after her in later life. The castle was in much need of restoration, so it was put up for sale and bought by Scott and Lesley Seath. They set about restoring the castle, and split up the estate to form 5 modern houses and 3 stable conversions in oder to pay for the restoration. Apparently, the local council turned down the original plans for old fashioned type houses and wanted properties with a complete contrast to the old castle. Check out the Castle Gogar Estate site to see the development, which could easily have had been featured on Grand Designs with Kevin McCloud enthusing about the juxtaposition of the old and new. Mr Seath seems to have done pretty well with the cottages selling for £300,000 each, the new houses for around £1.5 million each and the castle + 3 acres sold separately.

Castle Gogar Restored

The new owner’s sent some great photos of the restored castle and there’s an interesting article from property news section of The Scotsman about the renovation (see King of Castles). I also like the Le Corbusier comes to Edinburgh article from The Sunday Times, which tells a lovely story about the former owner Lady Steel-Maitland and her friendship with her tenant Gordon Stewart. The article mentions that photographs show her as “glamorous with a penchant for fashions with a nipped-in waist and large hats”, which I’d love to show on the blog as I rarely have any images of those I mention on here.

Castle Gogar in Winter

I’m running out of disk space here so can’t show all the photos of the new Castle Gogar Estate, but I’ve uploaded a photo below which should give you an idea of the contrast between the actual castle and the newer buildings. These came offered with such optional extras as an indoor pool, home cinema, gym, sauna, library and games room.

Castle Gogar Estate

You can find find out more about the Castle on Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland site here, but it’s also interesting to see the castle just as refurb started over on Multimap here. Anyway, I’m grateful to the new owner for the update, and all the info and photos. Hope I get invited round for a cup of tea if I’m ever in the area as I love to see how the Castle’s been turned into a family home, which was just what it needed.

A grassed avenue stretches ahead to the lake, beyond which stand twin recumbent statues. Off to the right, through a lightly wooded glade, a small bridge leads to the bottom of the slope above which stands the North Front of the house. That Front is impressive, but less so than the double colonnade which adorns the opposite frontage. Entering through the South Front into the hall and the place utterly reeks of taste, with its marble columns and busts in the classical style. Its elegance is only slightly diminished by being unskilfully executed in the faux-antique images of some of the ceiling frescoes.

The house is West Wycombe Park, designed in Palladian style in the 1750s for Sir Francis Dashwood. And here is the incongruity: this is Dashwood best known for his pranks and his prick. He travelled Europe, causing havoc in the Vatican, returned home to be both an MP and the founder of the Hellfire Club, for which much has been claimed: drinking beyond excess, orgies beyond nature’s limits, not to mention satanic rituals. Some of this may be far-fetched: this was a man who rejected papistry in all its forms and was willing to prove it through mocking practical jokes, but however much he believed the Black Legend, it does not follow he performed Black Masses. But his name lives on, I find, in both popular music and ‘erotic fiction’ as an apostle of debauchery.

This afternoon saw a short excursion to West Wycombe and I am left musing on the relationship between Dashwood’s taste and his decadence. We know very well that both can live together in one person — and, indeed, in those incongruities humanity lies. The house itself allows hints of this other side, in portraits of the master pretending to be the pope, echoes of the art of the Palazzo Te or in the frescoed celebration of Bacchus. But did Dashwood himself see any conflict between these elements in his existence? Did he return from a night at the caves, soiled and stinking of drink, and looked up at his house with a pang of guilt? Or did his house which screamed elegance make him run screaming from its order to find something less ordered, more primal? Is culture too much for a human to bear or is it a necessary escape from the bare human?

I was staggered to find out that my great great great grandfather Lloyd Baxendale bough his way into the landed gentry when he purchased the Greenham Lodge estate for £63,000 in 1873 (see more here). To put this into perspective, only 10% of the population at the time would have earned £100 or more a year. His family made their fortune from the Pickfords removals firm. Another ancestor seems to have trumped this nearly 100 years earlier. William Ramsay of Barnton was an Edinburgh banker, and a director of the Royal Bank of Scotland bought, he bought Gogar House (as it was known then) for £37,000 in 1789.

Castle Gogar

According to the Ratho Village History site, Mrs Ramsay and her son George went out to look over Gogar House in April 1792, and were “pleased with the grandeur and substantial appearance of the Place”. Later in that year William observed that “the beauty and value” of Gogar far exceeded his expectations. George was later known for his hunting and coaching exploits 1791 George married Miss Jean Hamilton of Wishaw and between 1793 and 1804, their children were born at Gogar. His daughter Susan married Alexander Gibson-Maitland (see more about ancestry here)

Ever since I found that I was listed on the Douglas Archives, I’ve been wondering how I might be connected to their family. I think I may have found out via the Ahnentafel sent by Rafael Alberto Madan (my 8th cousin twice removed, see more here). So I started with my (7th Generation) ancestor Alexander Gibson-Maitland, who married Susan Ramsay on 25 Mar 1819. She was the eldest daughter of George Ramsay, of Barnton, and Jean Hamilton, his wife. I then found George and Jean on Stirnet.com, and found a connection with the Douglas family as follows:

— 8th Generation —

Jean Hamilton (b 26.01.1769, d 09.10.1841); m. (24.02.1791) George Ramsay of Barnton (d 02.1810)

— 9th Generation —

Robert Hamilton, 6th of Wishaw, de jure 6th Lord Belhaven (b 03.05.1731, 3rd son); m. (11.02.1764) Susan Balfour (d 09.01.1789, dau of Sir Michael Balfour, Bart of Denmiln)

— 10th Generation —

William Hamilton, 4th of Wishaw (b 02.02.1690, d 16.04.1756); m. (16.12.1726) Bethia Hamilton (b 31.01.1702, d 02.10.1785, dau of Charles Hamilton of Weatherley)

— 11th Generation —

Robert Hamilton, younger of Wishaw (b 06.07.1664, dvp); m. (1668) Jean Hamilton (dau of Robert Hamilton of Brownmuir)

— 12th Generation —

William Hamilton, 3rd of Wishaw (d c1726, 3rd son); m1. (1660) Anne Hamilton (dau of John Hamilton, 7th of Udston)

— 13th Generation —

William Hamilton, 1st of Wishaw (d c1642); m. (08.1621) Beatrix Douglas (dau of James Douglas of Morton)

Seems like James was a popular Douglas family name, so I’ might need help tracking this one down. In the meantime, I found an interesting inclusion in the The Gentleman’s Magazine about William Ramsay Ramsay, esq:

WILLIAM RAMSAY RAMSAY, Esq. March 15. At Barnton House, near Edinburgh, in his 41st year, William Ramsay Ramsay, esq. of that place, and of Bannockburn and Sauchie, со. Stirling. He was the only son and heir of George Ramsay, esq. of Barnton, by the Hon. Jean Hamilton, second daughter of Robert Lord Belhaven. By the death of his father, which occurred in 1810 (when he was still an infant), he became possessed of estates in Midlothian and Stirlingshire to an extent popularly conferring on him the distinction of “the richest commoner in Scotland.” He was widely known on the turf for a considerable number of years. At the general election of 1841 he was returned to Parliament without opposition for the county of Midlothian ; but he retired before the dissolution of 1847. Mr. Ramsay married, Aug. 4, 1828, the Hon. Mary Sandilands, only daughter of the present Lord Torphichen ; and has left issue a son and heir, Charles William Ramsay, esq.

source:
The Gentleman’s Magazine
Published by F. Jefferies [etc.], 1850
Item notes: v.188 1850 Jan-Jun
(see scan here)

I guessing that George was the brother of Susan Ramsey who married Alexander Gibson-Maitland, given dates and parents names. I can’t help smiling at the phrase “he was widely known on the turf for a considerable number of years”. None of the protestant work ethos for George, which shouldn’t be too surprising given that he was an MP and by the account above “the richest commoner in Scotland.”

No 3. Barnton House

This engraving above was one of four on a page in the book Old & New Edinburgh, published in 1890. Barnton House is the bigger one in the middles, which the book describes as standing in a magnificently wooded park of 400 acres. In earlier days it had been named Cramond Regis and was once a royal hunting seat. The house was demolished in the early 20th century and modern housing was built on the land.

Here’s the second part of my Ahnentafel, kindly send to me by Rafael Alberto Madan, my 8th cousin, twice removed (see more here). I’ve started with my parents, and haven’t updated their details yet, but will do this when I start blogging about their stories. The information from the 10th to 25th generations of Maitlands is from various sources and I’ve tried to credit these where I can. According to the Wikipedia entry on Clan Maitland, the name Maitland is of Norman origin and was originally spelt Mautalent, Matulant or Matalan, it translates as “evil genius”. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions, but funnily enough the Mautalents come from the village of Les Moitiers d’Allonne near Carteret in Normandy, which is only just up the road from St Remy des Landes where my father now lives. Apparently, the name is found to occur frequently in Northumberland during the 12th and 13th centuries. The first time it is found in Scotland was Thomas de Matulant who was of Anglo-Norman origin and he appears to my ancestor. He’s as far as I can go, but it’s my great grandmother Elsie Maitland who connects me to the Clan:

— 2nd Generation —

2. Giles Simon Kirby, was born on 21 Oct 1930 (only child). He married Angela Mary Julie Birtwistle between 1944 and 1955; they had six children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. The preparer of this Ahnentafel understands that the couple may have divorced.

3. Angela Mary Julie Birtwistle (mother’s surname “Marwood”) (wife of the immediately preceding), was born after 1920.

— 3rd Generation —

4. Alfred Reginald Claude Kirby, was born circa 1901 (elder son (of two) and first child). He married Rosemary Louise FitzHerbert Wright on 19 Apr 1925 at the Catholic Church, Fordingbridge, Salisbury, England; He died on 21 Jun 1963.

5. Rosemary Louise FitzHerbert Wright (wife of the immediately preceding), was born on 2 Jun 1905.

From left to right: E. FitzHerbert Wright, Mrs G.H. Kirby (Elsie Maitland), Miss Iris Wright, Miss Valda Kirby, Rosemary Louise FitzHerbert Wright, Claude Kirby, Miss Ruth Tracy, Major Carroll- Leahy, Mrs. E. FitzHerbert Wright, G.H Kirby

The Times, Wednesday, Apr 22, 1925: MARRIAGES
Mr. C. Kirby and Miss R Wright
On Saturday, at the Roman Catholic Church, Fordingbridge, the marriage was solemnized between Mr. Claude Kirby, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Kirby, of Woodyates House Salisbury, and Rosemary Louise, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. FitzHerbert WRIGHT, of Hale Park, Breamore, Salisbury.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Cyril Smith, SJ., assisted by the Rev. Father Anscott. The bride was given away by her father, and wore a dress of ivory satin, with train of old Brussels lace (lent by her grand-mother, Mrs. FitzHerbert Wright), a wreath of orange-blossom, and tulle veil. She was attended by Miss Iris Wright (sister), Miss Valda Kirby (sister of the bridegroom), and Miss Ruth Tracy, who wore primrose georgette dresses with touches of turquoise, with tulle veils, and carried bouquets of yellow tulips. Major Carroll- Leahy was the best man. After the wedding a reception was held at Hale Park, where a large number of relatives and friends were entertained. Later, the bride and bridegroom left for Gloucestershire by motor-car, the gift of the bride’s father.

— 4th Generation —

8. Maj. George Henry Kirby, was born circa 1876, the son of Alfred Octavius Kirby, and Alice Baxendale, his wife. He married Alice Marie Maitland in 1900.

9. Alice Marie “Elsie” Maitland (wife of the immediately preceding) was born circa 1880 (elder daughter (of two) and second child).

— 5th Generation —

18. George Keith Maitland, was born on 11 Jan 1854 (the third (second surviving) son (of three)), and was baptized on 22 Feb 1854. He married Christina Mary Theresa McDonell in 1877, and converted thereafter to Catholicism; they had five children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. He died on 17 Mar 1896 at Reading, England, as a result of an accident of some kind.

19. Christina Mary Theresa McDonell (wife of the immediately preceding), was born on 14 May 1845 daughter of Angus McDonell (20th Chief, of Keppoch) (of ancient Highland family, whose members held fast to the Catholic Faith at the Protestant Revolt and in succeeding centuries of persecution), and Christina MacNab, his wife. She died on 29 Dec 1932 at Bournemouth, Hampshire.

— 6th Generation —

36. George Ramsay Maitland, was born on 19 Jan 1821 (the second son (of four) and second child). He married Alice Anne Nisbet on 19 Sep 1848; they had five children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. He died on 24 Jun 1866.

37. Alice Anne Nisbet (wife of the immediately preceding), was born circa 1825 in INDIA, the daughter of Josiah Nisbet, HEICCS, and Rachael Marjoribanks, his wife. She died on 27 Oct 1869.

— 7th Generation —

72. Alexander Gibson-Maitland, was born on 14 Sep 1787 (the oldest son (of six) and oldest child). He married Susan Ramsay on 25 Mar 1819; they had six children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. He died in Sep 1828.

73. Susan Ramsay (wife of the immediately preceding), was baptized on 27 Jan 1792 at Cramond, Midlothian, Scotland; she was the eldest daughter of George Ramsay, of Barnton, and Jean Hamilton, his wife. She died in Sep 1831.

— 8th Generation —

144. Sir Alexander Charles Gibson-Maitland, II BARONET, of Clifton Hall, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, was born on 21 Aug 1755(oldest son (of five), and oldest child), and was baptized on 21 Nov. He married Helen Gibson-Wright on 30 Apr 1786; they had twelve children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. He died on 7 Feb 1848.

145. Helen Gibson-Wright (wife of the immediately preceding), was born between 1769 and 1771, the daughter and heiress of Alexander Gibson-Wright, of Clifton Hall & Kersie, and Margaret Gibson, his wife. She died after 7 Apr 1812.

— 9th Generation —

288. Gen. the Hon. Sir Alexander Maitland, I Baronet, was born on 21 Mar 1728 (7th son). On obtaining a marriage license on 6 Jul 1754 from the Archbishop of at Canterbury Vicar General’s Office, London, he married Penelope Madan on 6 Jul 1754 at St.George’s Anglican Church, Hanover (Golden) Square, Mayfair, London; they had eight children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. As of 12 Oct 1793, he was a General in the British Army. He was created a Baronet on 30 Nov 1818. He died on 14 Feb 1820 at age 91 and was buried at St.Andrew’s Anglican Church, Totteridge, Hertfordshire, England, where there is a monumental tablet and an elaborate tomb. His estate was probated on 16 Mar 1820 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, London.

289. Penelope Madan (wife of the immediately preceding) was born on 20 Dec 1730 at Holyport (near Maidenhead), Berkshire, England. She died on 22 Dec 1805 at Totteridge and was buried at St.Andrew’s Anglican Church there, where there is a monumental tablet and an elaborate tomb.

[For earlier generations of Madan family click here]

— 10th Generation —

[Earlier generations of Maitlands below are sourced from The Peerage site, which ends at Sir Alexander Maitland (see above)]

Charles Maitland, 6th Earl of Lauderdale was born circa 1688.1 He was the son of John Maitland, 5th Earl of Lauderdale and Lady Margaret Cunningham. He married Lady Elizabeth Ogilvy, daughter of James Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Findlater and Anne Dunbar, on 15 July 1710. He died on 15 July 1744 at Halton, Midlothian, Scotland. Charles Maitland, 6th Earl of Lauderdale gained the title of 6th Earl of Lauderdale. According to the Clan Maitland site, he was Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of the County of Edinburgh and also Master of the Mint. He was one of the sixteen Scottish Peers in the ninth Parliament of Great Britain. On July 15, 1710 he married Lady Elizabeth Ogilvie, daughter of James, Earl of Findlater and Seafield. Charles was the last Lord Chancellor of Scotland. He died on July 15, 1744. He had two brothers and a sister

— 11th Generation —

John Maitland, 5th Earl of Lauderdale was born circa 1655.1 He was the son of Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale and Elizabeth Lauder. He married Lady Margaret Cunningham, daughter of Alexander Cunningham, 10th Earl of Glencairn and Nicola Stewart, circa 1680. He died on 30 August 1710. According to the Clan Maitland site, he was a Senator of the College of Justice, sitting as Lord Ravelrig. He was also obliged to buy the Baronetcy of Nova Scotia. He died on August 30, 1710.

— 12th Generation —

Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale was the son of John Maitland, 1st Earl of Lauderdale and Lady Isabel Seton. He married Elizabeth Lauder, daughter of Richard Lauder and Mary Scot, Lady Haltoun, on 18 November 1652 at Halton, Midlothian, Scotland.1 He died on 9 June 1691. Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale gained the title of 3rd Earl of Lauderdale. According to the Clan Maitland site, he was a Senator of the College of Justice with the title of Lord Haltoun and Lord Treasurer Depute in 1670. He married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Richard Lauder of Haltoun, County of Edinburgh. Charles died on June 9th, 1691. Charles was one of the Privy Council of Charles II and Lord Justice General and General of the Mint from 1681 to 1684.

— 13th Generation —

John Maitland, 1st Earl of Lauderdale was the son of John Maitland, 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane and Jean Fleming. He married Lady Isabel Seton, daughter of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline and Lilias Drummond, before 18 June 1610. He died on 18 January 1644/45. According to the Clan Maitland site, in the banqueting hall which was originally the main living room of Lethington Tower, is seen the Lion Rampant of the Maitlands and his wife Isabel Seton. On April 2nd 1616 he was created Viscount of Lauderdale and in 1624 on March 14th was made Lord Thirlestane and Boltoun, Viscount Maitland and 1st Earl of Lauderdale. Boltoun is a small village on the northern slope of Lammermuir, just a few miles south of Lethington. There’s an extensive entry on the Wikipedia entry: here.

Lethington, now Lennoxlove

— 14th Generation —

John Maitland, 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane was born before 1573. He married Jean Fleming, daughter of James Fleming, 4th Lord Fleming and Barbara Hamilton, before 1589. He died on 3 October 1595. He was buried at Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. John Maitland, 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane gained the title of 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane. According to the Clan Maitland site, he received a Charter of Lethington which was ratified by Parliament on the 22nd of May, 1584. He bought Lethington in 1613 (probably at a very low price) from his nephew, James Maitland of Lethington, son of William, who had been exiled from Scotland because of his Catholic religion.

Having filled the high offices of the Lord Privy Seal, Judge of the Court of Session, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor of Scotland he was elevated to Lord Thirlestane about 18th of May, 1590 when the King married Anne of Denmark and crated a number of peers to celebrate the occasion. His coat-of-arms and those of his wife Janet Fleming (the niece of his brothers wife), can be seen on a stone panel above the door in the old banqueting hall of the Lethington Tower. By marrying Janet, daughter of Lady Barbara Hamilton and James, IV Lord Fleming, he allied the line of his descendants with royal blood. Janet was descended from King James II of Scotland. John died in 1595. There’s an extensive entry on the Wikipedia here.

— 15th Generation —

[Earlier generations of Maitlands below are sourced from Stirnet.com, except where I've found more detailed accounts]

Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington and Thirlstane (1496‑August 1, 1586). According, to the Wikipedia’s entry for the Clan Maitland, Sir Richard was a Senator of the College of Justice, an Ordinary Lord of Session from 1561 until 1584, and notable Scottish poet. He was served heir to his father, Sir William Maitland of Lethington, Haddingtonshire, and Thirlestane, Berwickshire, on 15 October 1515.

In his later years he was blind, and occupied himself by writing a history of The House and Surname of Seaton, and by writing poems, e.g., On the New Year, On the Queene’s Maryage, etc. He held various offices, chiefly legal, but appears to have kept as far as possible out of the fierce political struggles of his time, and to have been a genially satirical humorist.

He married Mariotta (or Margaret) (d.March 1586), daughter of Sir Thomas Cranstoun of Corsbie, in Berwickshire. They had three sons and four daughters.

— 16th Generation —

William Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington (d Flodden 09.09.1513); m. Martha Seton (dau of George, ). According to ElectricScotland.com, William Maitland, was described as a man of great bravery and resolution, who was killed at Flodden, with his sovereign, James IV., with whom he was in high favour. He married Martha Seton, daughter of George, 2nd Lord Seton.

— 17th Generation —

John Maitland (a 08.1464, dvp); m. ?? Dundas (probably dau of John Dundas, 14th of Dundas)

— 18th Generation —

William Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington (d before 1471). According to ElectricScotland.com, William Maitland, was the first to change the spelling of his name to its present form. He had a charter from Archibald, duke of Turenne and earl of Douglas, to himself and Margaret Wardlaw, his wife, of the lands of Blythe, Hedderwick, Tollus, and Burncleugh, dated at Linlithgow, 23d March 1432, his father being then alive.

— 19th Generation —

Sir Robert Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington (b by 1369); m. Marion Abernethy (a 1466). According to ElectricScotland.com, Sir Robert Maitland, got the charge of the castle of Dunbar, from his uncle, George, earl of March, when that rebellious nobleman withdrew into England, in 1398, in consequence of the contract of marriage between his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Dunbar and David, duke of Rothesay, being cancelled, through the intrigues of Archibald, earl of Douglas, surnamed the Grim. In conjunction with Hotspur and Lord Talbot, the earl soon after returned across the border, and laid waste the lands which, having been forfeited, he could no longer call his own. His nephew, Sir Robert Maitland, having surrendered the castle of Dunbar to the earl of Douglas, escaped being involved in his ruin. He and his family were afterwards designed of Lethington. He died about 1434, leaving three sons. Robert, the eldest, was one of the hostages for James I., on his liberation from England in 1424, when his annual revenue was estimated at 400 merks. As he predeceased his father, without issue, William, the second son, succeeded to the family estates. James, the third son, married Egidia, daughter of James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, constable of Dundee, and from his grandson, John, descended the Maitlands of Eccles and other families of the name.

Dunbar harbour and castle ruins

— 20th Generation —

John Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington. According to ElectricScotland.com, John Maitland, got a safe-conduct to go to England in 1363. He obtained from William, earl of Douglas, upon his own resignation, a charter of the lands of Thirlestane and Tollus, to himself and his son, Robert, by his wife, the Lady Agnes Dunbar, daughter of Patrick, earl of March, and died about 1395.

— 21st Generation —

Robert Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington. According to ElectricScotland.com, Sir Robert Maitland, possessed the lands of Thirlestane in his father’s lifetime. Among other charters he had one of the lands of Lethington from Sir John Gifford of Yester, confirmed by King David II., 17th October, in the 17th year of his reign (1345). Just a year afterwards, on the same day of the month, he died when the Clan fought at the Battle of Durham in 1346 (also known as the Battle of Neville’s Cross), with his brother. His wife (Christina?) was the daughter of John Keith and sister of Sir Robert Keith, great marischal of Scotland, who was killed in the same battle.

— 22nd Generation —

William Maitland of Thirlestane (d c1293). According to the Wikipedia entry on Clan Maitland, William joined King Robert the Bruce on his ascension to the crown. He supported the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, however he died in 1315. William of Thirlestane was a follower of Robert the Bruce (1276 — 1329). According to the Clan Maitland site, William called Burd—alane, eldest son of Sir Richard, referred to himself as ‘Willelmus Mautaland filius Ricardi Matalent’ . He was in possession of Thirlestane by 1293

— 23rd Generation —

Sir Richard Maitland; m. Avicia (dau of Thomas de Thirlestane). According to ElectricScotland.com, Sir Richard Matulant, who, in the reign of Alexander III., was one of the most considerable barons in Scotland, being the owner of the lands and baronies of Thirlestane, Blythe, Tollus, Hedderwick, and other properties, all in the shire of Berwick. To Dryburgh abbey, which had been founded little more than a century before, he gifted several lands, “for the welfare of his soul, and the souls of Avicia his wife, his predecessors and successors.” His son, William de Mautlant of Thirlestane, confirmed these gifts. According to the Clan Maitland site, Sir Richard Mautalent, the earliest undoubted ancestor of the family of whom any substantial amount is known, probably came from ‘Chivington’ (Chevington), in Northumberland. He married Avicia, daughter and heiress of Thomas de Thirlestane and thereby acquired the lands of Thirlestane, Hedderwick and Blyth in the Scottish Border country before 1258. It has long been known as Lauderdale, a valley running south-east of Soutra Hill, south of Edinburgh.

Old Thirlestane, the original home of the Mautalents in Lauderdale

Sir Richard defended his castle against English invaders including Edward I of England (1272 — 1307). From 1230 until 1236 he was involved in litigation concerning his lands in Chevington, Northumberland. This litigation was with a neighbour, Hugh de Morewic, almost certainly a descendent of the Mautalents earliest feudal lords, the Morvilles, whose home in Normandy was only a few miles from theirs. The outcome is not known, and the lands were probably lost when Edward I confiscated all land owned in England by Scots.

— 24th Generation —

William Matalent / Mautalent. According to ElectricScotland.com, William de Matulant was witness to several of the charters of King Alexander II., which proves that he must have been much about the court of that monarch. He died about 1250.

— 25th Generation —

Thomas Mautalent (a 1227). According, to the Wikipedia’s entry for the Clan Maitland, Thomas de Matulant was of Anglo-Norman origin, and his is the first for the name to be found in Scotland. He was the ancestor to this noble family in Lauderdale. Thomas flourished in the reign of William the Lion and died in 1288. The Maitlands had come to Britain from Normandy with William the Conqueror in 1066, originally settling in Northumberland.

This post is not so much about my family history, more a childhood reminiscence having been looking at the country house of my ancestors. Just before my teens I used to stay regularly with my younger sister at Dean House in Kilmeston. My father was living with my step-mother and her family there. Can’t say it was a particularly happy time, but I found a site on the web that shows how the house and gardens have been extensively renovated and landscaped. Looks like they’ve done a fantastic job, and I must go and re-visit the place on one of their open days.

Dean House Gardens of Kilmeston

My mother recently asked me if I knew how my grandfather Claude Kirby was related to his aunt Connie Bagge of Livermere Hall in Suffolk, one of the lost country houses of England (see photo below). He went to boarding school here in the UK from the age of 7, and stayed with his (great) aunt Connie in the school holidays as his parents were based in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

The reason she asked was that when he found out that Cynthia Hume, one of her bridesmaids, had a grandfather, Sir Pierce Lacey, who lived in a large house on the opposite side of the mere, he took great pleasure in telling her that, as a boy, he was not allowed to play with the Lacey children, as they were from Birmingham and were considered ‘Trade’ .

Funny because if my research is correct then Connie Bagge was Constance Mary Baxendale, the sister of my great great grandmother Alice Baxondale and daughter of Lloyd Baxendale. He’d made his fortune from the Pickfords removals firm, which probably explains why my family are always moving. So it seems like Claude’s great grandfather Lloyd (my great great great grandfather) bought his way into the world of the land-owning gentry, when he purchased the Greenham Lodge estate in 1873 for £63,000 (see more below). Not sure that would even buy you a beach hut here in Brighton now, although the credit crunch might make them more affordable again soon.

Constance or Connie married Thomas Edward Bagge, son of Richard Bagge and Pleasance Hulton. The Peerage site also suggests that they lived at lived at Gaywood Hall in Norfolk, which looks rather grand like the other piles featured in this post although sadly I’m not sure I could even afford the heating in any of them.

GAYWOOD HALL, KING LYNN

Victorian Pleasures and County Life:
Lloyd Baxendale and the Greenham Lodge estate
The coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837 ushered in a unique period of industrial growth in Britain; soon it was businessmen not aristocrats who were the wealthiest people and often they used their wealth to buy into the world of the land-owning gentry. One such man was Lloyd Baxendale, who purchased the Greenham Lodge estate in 1873 for £63,000.

His family made their fortune from the Pickfords removals firm and within a few years, Baxendale had commissioned one of the prominent architects of the day, Richard Norman Shaw, to design a new house for him. Completed in 1881, the building survives today. Lloyd died in 1882, when his son, Lloyd Henry (Harry) Baxendale succeeded him as lord of the manor of Greenham.

GREENHAM HALL

THE GREAT HALL

The Baxendale family threw themselves wholeheartedly into the business of being “gentry”. By 1875 they had largely funded the construction of a new church as well as cottages for the estate staff. Amongst these were Norman Cottages, built for estate workers and possibly named in honour of the Baxendale’s architect.

Mrs. Baxendale built a rest home for sick employees of Pickfords on the southern slopes of the Common; originally called St. Andrew’s Home, it was subsequently sold and is now a private house called Brackenhurst.

(Source: Greenham: a common inheritance)

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Today, we went to Harewood House, north of Leeds, with the promise of a new science attraction. We have previously been Harewood Card holders (annual passes) but like all these things, the novelty wore off with extensive use and we eventually balked at the renewal price.

We gave the house a miss on this occasion and even with basic grounds admission and declining the 10% gift aid deal we didn’t get much change from £30.

Passing the house, we headed for the new Yorkshire Planetarium, housed in three geodesic domes…

…but we are disappointed to find that they aren’t finished yet. You could go into the middle one to find out about it and the estimated opening is for three weeks time. It looks promising, and their website has a blog that tells some of the challenges they are facing.

We then headed down to the bird garden, which is located behind the stable block.

The courtyard area is part of the cafe with gift shop nearby along with various corporate rooms.

On the way in to the garden, I noticed the zoo license, note the serial number. I saw the Blackppol Tower one too (for the aquarium) but the photo didn’t come out for that one! I am saving up various animal photos for another posting.

There is an extensive play area which kept David amused for a while.

On the main lawn, there was the chance to practice circus skills.

Eventually, we began the long walk back to the overflow car park for the trip home.

We will go again to visit the Planetarium, but on a low season day or tied in with a bigger event.

One of the many addresses I’ve found for my great great great grandfather George Goldsmith Kirby is Little Marble Hill in Twickenham. He lived there from about 1861-67, just before his death in 1868. The house was demolished in around 1873, so I contacted the Twickenham Museum to see if they had any paintings, photographs or even a map of the area from the time.

I received a very kind email today explaining that there is probably an Ordnance Survey map of about 1865, and although they don’t have a copy the Richmond Local Studies Library might have. They have an engraving of the house, and I’ve linked through to a small version of this on their website:

They also explained that there was an exhibition at the Geffrye Museum, in London, in 2003: Home and Garden which included a painting of the house by John James Chalon made in about 1840. Apparently, the the original watercolour is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, but I may be able to get a copy of the catalogue from the Geffrye Museum.

Well, I now have an excuse to go and visit some of these museums and galleries with my kids when I get back to London at the end of the month. I’m also wondering whether Little Marble Hill would qualify for inclusion on Matthew Beckett’s Lost Heritage: a memorial to the lost country houses of England.